Deepika Kumari, Atanu Das left out as India's Asian Games archery squad undergoes major overhaul

Veteran archers Deepika Kumar and Atanu Das have been left out of India's recurve squad for the upcoming Asian Games that will be taking place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19. Their exclusion from the upcoming event marks a significant moment for Indian archery, one that signals the beginning of a transition period.

Olympians Dhiraj Bommadevara, Ankita Bhakat and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, meanwhile, are among the archers that will be traveling to Japan for the upcoming multi-sporting event. The trio made the cut at the selection trials that took place in Sonipat to decide India's compound and recurve squads for the Asian Games as well as World Cup Stages 3 and 4.

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End of an era for Indian archery? 

Former world No 1 Deepika and her husband Atanu have been something of a power couple for Indian archery and are among the most the greatest to have represented the country in the sport. Four-time Olympian Deepika, after all, is a two-time World Championships team silver medallist who also has multiple silvers in World Cup finals to her name.

The 31-year-old had previously won a team bronze at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China and had recently won team gold in Stage 2 of the 2026 World Cup in Shanghai.

Atanu also has a team silver to his name at the World Championships (2019) and the Asian Games (2022). The 34-year-old had also won team gold at the Asian Championships in Dhaka last year.

Dhiraj will be leading the men's recurve squad in Atanu's absence while world No 3 Jyoti, who had won three medals at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, will be leading the women's compound team.

Indian archery squad for 2026 Asian Games

Recurve Men: Dhiraj Bommadevara, Neeraj Chauhan, Yashdeep Bhoge

Recurve Women: Kirti Sharma, Kumkum Anil Mohod, Ankita Bhakat

Compound Men: Sahil Jadhav, Kushal Dalal, Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam

Compound Women: Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi, Prithika Pradeep